Nestled in the heart of Bridge Street in Amsterdam is a tiny shop filled from floor to ceiling with a colorful array of interesting items. Owner Rob Constantine has made the most of his small space, utilizing every inch of floor and wall space to display his collection which includes everything from tiny containers, glass figurines, and kitchen utensils to small sculptures, paintings, and a variety of other odd items.
Constantine, who named his store Joya Beautiful Vintage Objects, said he has been interested in collecting from an early age.
“My father was in the trucking and storage business, so he came across a lot of antiques,” said Constantine. “My mother always collected fine china and things like that…So I just started collecting over the years.”
Constantine said he has been buying and selling antiques for many years, but eventually he decided he needed a place to show his collection and about a year ago he chose his current location at 47 Bridge Street.
“I just thought with the bridge coming, this [area] is probably going to go through a little bit of a renaissance,” said Constantine. “Let’s hope!” he added.
Constantine said he’s enjoyed friendly relations with neighboring businesses on Bridge Street and mentioned that he has gotten regular referrals from them.
Customers who come into his store are prone to happy reminiscing, according to Constantine.
“They think of things when they come in here, things that their grandmothers had, things that they grew up with that they haven’t seen in years,” he said.
For the summer, the store is open on weekends from 1pm to 4pm or by appointment. Constantine says he plans to have the store open for longer hours in the fall and winter. He also expects to display a variety of Christmas themed items during the holiday season.
To contact Joya Beautiful Vintage Objects, visit the Facebook page or call 518 866 8194.
